Ministry of Higher Education partners with UTU for post-disaster revitalisation in Central Aceh

Central Aceh (ANTARA) — The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) has partnered with Teuku Umar University (UTU) to deploy teams into communities for post-disaster revitalisation efforts in the Central Aceh region.

UTU lecturer Irsadi said the impactful student programme has been running for approximately three weeks in Kampung Toweren, Lut Tawar sub-district, Central Aceh regency.

“We have been here for nearly three weeks, with one week remaining, as our target here is one month,” said Irsadi Aristora when met by reporters in Central Aceh on Wednesday.

The programme focuses in part on restoring community irrigation channels affected by the Sumatra floods at the Kampung Toweren site.

“Our activities here include clean water purification, as well as the distribution of basic necessities in two phases,” said Irsadi.

In carrying out this aid programme, Irsadi, serving as supervisor, is also assisted by 50 student volunteers.

Through this programme, the ultimate goal is disaster convergence, specifically the integration of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), which is expected to create proactive and integrated disaster management for communities.

Previously, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology dispatched 10,000 students at the end of January to support Sumatra’s disaster recovery.

The impactful student programme emphasises the implementation of rapid-use technological innovations originating from each participating university.

Activities are directed towards strategic sectors, including food sovereignty, energy independence, and public health.